Fiji community in NZ rally in support for disaster aftermath

Fiji people praying in Mangere last night for their kinsfolk back home in the wake of the cyclone Winston disaster. Image: TJ Aumua/PMC

By TJ Aumua in Auckland

Auckland’s Fiji community have mobilised together to action disaster relief efforts for their families back home in the Fiji Islands.

Community members assembled in Mangere last night fuelled with emotion and desperate to send help back home.

Those affected in Fiji have requested donations of non-perishable foods, water, blankets, fishing rods and tools that can be used to help the rebuilding process.

The Fijian Community Association of Auckland and the Auckland Mayoral Committee confirmed two shipping containers would be made available soon so those wanting to contribute to relief efforts can donate.

NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS
All their Pacific Disaster Funds will be directed to the Fiji crisis. Make your donation through their website: https://www.redcross.org.nz/donate/where-the-need-is-greatest/

AUCKLAND COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION
Auckland Communities Foundation (ACF) is a charitable foundation and a trusted vehicle that manages Auckland Council Mayoral Fund for the Pacific. Any donations should be made through ACF as follows:
a. Via the “donate now” function on the ACF website: www.aucklandcf.org.nz.
b. Via direct payment to the ACF bank account (with reference “MFP” to ASB Bank account 12-3028-0714703-00)
c. Via cheque made payable to “Auckland Communities Foundation Mayoral Fund for the Pacific” and sent to PO Box 26087, Epsom 1334.

FIJI GOVERNMENT
Donations can be made through the bank accounts below and donors will not be charged any fees, including overseas transactions. International donations can be made through the following account:
Bank: Australia New Zealand Banking Corporation
Account Number: 12628523
Account Name: Prime Minister’s National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: Cyclone Winston
Swift Code: ANZ BFJFX
BSB: 010 890
HUMM FM Cyclone Winston Relief Fund Appeal – All funds collected will be given to the Fiji Red Cross. Make a donation to:
ANZ Bank Account: 06-0082-0015961200 Cyclone Winston Relief Fund; or
contact Roshilla on +675 849 7000.

Fiji community members in a Q and A session about the Winston cyclone disaster at a public meeting in Mangere last night. Image: TJ AumuaThe president of the Fiji Community Association of Auckland, Naca Yalimaiwai, says the meeting was about providing “clean communication” on how the community in New Zealand would like to provide effective disaster relief to Fiji. Image: TJ Aumua/PMCPart of the crowd at the Fiji community meeting in Mangere last night. Image: TJ Aumua/PMC

TJ Aumua is Pacific Media Watch freedom project contributing editor for the Pacific Media Centre (2016). She is a recent graduate of Auckland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Communication Studies (Honours) degree and with a BCS majoring in journalism and a minor in screen writing. TJ is also a contributor for the PMC Online and Asia Pacific Report and has been a recent summer research intern with Pacific Journalism Review.